INSIDE THE PATRIOTS: Key play shows Morris' strong side

Maybe it'll happen again in tonight's preseason finale against the visiting New York Giants (7:30 PM; WCVB-Ch. 5).

Dan Pires

Maybe it'll happen again in tonight's preseason finale against the visiting New York Giants (7:30 PM; WCVB-Ch. 5).

If it happened the regular season, though, it would be no doubt go down as one of those special moments. However, it'll totally be obscured by the time the regular season begins in just under a week and a half. That's because it's the preseason.

Still though, the defining play for the New England Patriots so far for the preseason came midway through the first quarter last Friday night against the Carolina Panthers.

When asked about it, running back Sammy Morris kind of downplayed the drive-sustaining play. Considering it was the first time he touched the ball that night, the gutsy play call and subsequent execution by all of its moving parts definitely deserves its props.

Nearly two and a half minutes after it began, a drive that officially started out at their own 10 appeared to stall just a few yards down the field. Faced with a critical fourth-and-one at the 24, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who had just seconds before handed the ball off four straight times to starter Laurence Maroney, switched up and tucked the ball into Morris' hands.

Instinctively and without pause, Morris (6-0, 220) followed the stream of blockers flowing to the right, blowing through the defense for five yards and a critical first down in the process. The play, after all, was just one in the 18-play touchdown scoring drive that gave the Patriots an early 7-0 lead along the way to a 24-7 road win. After the play, however, the Patriots seemingly never looked back.

"When they bring everybody in there, you know as a running back that we can't block everybody," explained Morris. "You just ask the linemen to get their guy. Heath (Evans) did a good job of getting his guy. The tight ends did as well. After they get their blocks, the onus is on me to push through."

Showing that he's also got plenty of smarts in addition to a competitive spirit, Morris was quick to credit guard Steve Neal and tackle Nick Kaczur, too.

Morris, who was signed as a free agent on March 3, has only been a starter in 23 of his 94 career games and has rushed the ball 374 times for 1,460 yards and 14 touchdowns. He's also been credited with 112 receptions for 792 yards and one touchdown. But, the majority of his production came when during his last three seasons when he was with the Miami Dolphins. He was previously a member of the Buffalo Bills for the first four years in the National Football League.

With the Patriots starting running back job locked up by Maroney, it'll be up to Morris, Evans and Kevin Faulk to pick up the slack.

Even though Morris' resume would indicate that he's more of a third-down or change-of-pace type of back, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is extremely impressed with his versatility.

"He's played for us on third down, as he did in Miami "¦ third down, first and second down, fourth down. He's been involved in the kicking game and passing situations, goal-line," Belichick told the afternoon hosts on WEEI on Monday.

"He does a lot of things well. He's got some power, he's got some quickness (and) he can get away from people. He's got enough playing strength to be able to bang out a tough yard or two there. So, I think he has a lot of things going for him. He's done a good job. He's had a good camp for us."

Morris has been on almost a continual uphill spiral since camp opened on July 27th. Early on he appeared to struggle, has lately been showing flashes that he's capable of being something more than just a serviceable backup.

The Texas Tech product says that he's been totally consumed with absorbing the Patriots offensive playbook and has been literally following around Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears as well as Faulk.

"Ivan would say small things here and there or (I'd) just talk to Kevin," says Morris. "(It's been) a combination of reps, film, accountability from your team, and just the learning process on my own (behalf). It's a number of things ­— coaching and all that stuff. I started to get more comfortable with it as time goes on and hopefully I'll get more comfortable with it and get better."

As for the kind of player the fans can expect, Morris said what the Patriots as an organization and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hold sacred.

"I'm a competitor," Morris said in a hushed tone. "I'm going to work hard and do what's right on the field as well as off it ­— that's really about it."

Dan Pires covers the Patriots for the Stadnard-Times. Contact him at DPires@s-t.com